Clothes-pin



(No Model.)

J. SPERRY.

CLOTHES PIN.

Patented Sept. 26, 1882.

I I jig ant c) 542% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SPERRY, or MOUNTAIN HOME, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOTH ES-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,171, dated September 26, 1882.

Application filed J une 1, 1882.

1' 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SPERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Home, in the county of Monroe and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Pins; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

. tion.

the center one is flexible.

My invention relates to wooden clothespins; and it consists in providing the same with two intersecting longitudinal slots of varying width, and arranged at right angles, so as to form four flexible prongs, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of myimproved clothes-pin,and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line a; m of Fig. l.

Heretofore wooden clothespins have been slotted longitudinally, so as to form only two or three prongs. In adjusting these pins so as to secure clothing upon a line, especially when the pin has only two prongs,it frequently happens that the slot formed in the pin is so much larger than the diameter of the line and the thickness of the clothing hung thereon as to fit loosely andinsecurely; or, on the other hand, if the diameter of the line is greater than that of the slot, the pin will be split by any endeavor to force it upon the line. A clothes-pin having only a single slot is also objectionable, for the reason that it lacks the requisite degree of flexibility, and, besides, it can be attached to the line in only one posi- VVooden clothes-pins have also been made with three prongs separated by two parallel slots, the outer prongs being rigid, while As such pins, however, have usually been arranged so'that only one of the slots is intended to be used for clamping purposes, they are liable to similar objections consequent upon the use of the ordinary two-pronged pin, it being frequently (No model.)

necessary to turn them in the hand before they can be conveniently applied to the line. They are also but slightly more adjustable to lines of varying thickness without danger of splitting, and, besides, their manufacture is necessarily more expensive.

For the purpose of obviating these objections I provide the clothes-pin A with two longitudinal slots, a a, that are formed at right angles and intersect each other centrally. In this way the clothes-pin is provided with four prongs, b b,-which are arranged one at each corner or angle of the pin, being separated from each other by the slots. These slots to a may be of the same width or diameter, if desired, but I prefer to have one, a, wider than the other, a, for the reason that the pin is thus more readily adapted to fit lines of varying thickness. longitudinal slots arranged as shown it is obvious that the pin can be fitted to the line without the necessity of turning it in the hand, as is often necessary with pins of the ordinary construction. It is also obvious that by making the pin with intersecting slots, so as to form four prongs instead of two or three, as formerly, an increased flexibility will be attained, the prongs being thus better adapted to grasp and hold clothing upon a line. The

ends of the prongs I) b are beveled on their ,inner sides in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wooden clothes pin having two longitudinal slots intersecting each other ata right angle, whereby the pin is provided with four prongs, substantially as shown and described.

2. A clothes-pin having longitudinal slots at a of varying width and arranged at a right angle to each other, substantially as shown and described.

In'testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JonN SPERRY. Witnesses:

ALEX WILEY, FRED STAATS.

By forming the pin with two 

